Flock cutter



Feb. 9, 1943.

A. HAUG FLOCK. CUTTER Filed July 18, 1940 /PNEY Patented Feb. 9, 1943 FLOCK CUTTER Andrew Hauge, Claremont, N. H., assignor to Claremont Waste Manufacturing Company, a corporation of New Hampshire Application July 18, 1940, 'Serial No; 346,186

15 Claims. (Cl. 83-6) My invention relates to ilock cutters. It has among its objects to provide an improved flock cutter, and, more particularly, an

improved flock cutter of the type described andv claimed in my Patent No. 2,145,177. A further object of my invention is to provide such animproved ock cutter wherein, while retaining the general arrangement of the peripherally located cuttings screens with the air connections thereto and the stationary knives also spaced around the periphery of the cutting cylinder, it is made possible materially to simplify and improve the outer casing structure. Still further objects of my invention are to provide improved means for adjusting the stationary knives relative to the cutting cylinder and for moving said knivesV into and out of operative position and fixing the same therein, and such means cooperating in an improved manner with parts of the casing and with the intermediate screen structure whereby it is made possible to adjust the stationary knives with facility and accuracy while materially simplifying the construction and reducing the expense thereof. These and other objects and advantages of my improvements will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawing, I have shown for purposes of illustration one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of a. flock cutter of my improved construction, certain air and cooling water connections being broken away to facilitate illustration;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of this construction, an intermediate portion of the machine being broken away to facilitate illustration;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on line 3-3 of Figures 2 and 4;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Figure 3, portions of the casing being omitted and an intermediate portion of the machine being broken away to facilitate illustration; Fig. 5 is a section on line 5--5 of Figure 3; Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one end of one of the stationary knife supports, and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail section view on line l--l of Figure 1.

In this illustrative construction, I have shown a flock cutter comprising a rotatable cutting cylinder I suitably journaled in casing end members 2 which are in turn connected in an improved manner by improved cooling and stationary knife supporting structure, generally indicated at 3, and disposed herein between cuttings removing Cil and screening structure, generally indicated at 4; the structure 3 including improved knife adjusting means and the stationary knives 5 being carried by this structure and being moved into and out of operative position in an improved manner, all as hereinafter more fully described.

In my improved construction, the stationary knife supporting structure 3 includes stationary rails or lag members 6 suitably xed to each of the end members 2 at their opposite ends, as, for example, by bolts 1. Herein, these lag members are provided with longitudinally extending cooling Water passages 8 extending from top to bottom thereof and having widened portions or extensions 8a on their inner ends in such manner as to increase the area of .the cooling water passages adjacent the teeth of the cylinder I. Further, these lag members are disposed within the end members 2 and fixed thereto by the bolts I extending through lateral end flanges on the end walls 9 above inner lateral extensions 8b on the lag members in which the extensions Ba are disposed, While the opposite faces 6a of the lag members are plane. Herein, also, cooling water supply and discharge pipes III communicating with the cooling water passages 8 in the lag members are extended through the end members 2 and fixed to the ends of the lag members 6. Thus, it will be observed that a simple rigid frame structure is provided without requiring additional longitudinal connections or rails between the end members other than the cooling Water lag members 6, While it is also made possible, through the rigid connection of the ends of these lag members ,to the end members 2, to eliminate openings in the end members opposite the ends of the lag members; the only openings in the end members, other than suitable bolt holes and apertures for the cooling water pipes I0, being the suction or cuttings outlet openings II between the several lags and communicating with the space within the cut tings removing and screening structure 4 for the withdrawal of the cut flock through usual communicating suction connections I2.

Cooperating with these improved rails or lag members 6 are improved stationary knife carrying and adjusting mechanisms carried on these lag members. Herein, each of these mechanisms includes studs I3 threaded in the outer faces of the lag members at opposite ends thereof and carrying sleeve members I4 normally pressed tight against nuts I5 on the free ends of the studs by stiff coiled springs I6 acting between the sleeve I4 and the top of the lag member and ber as shown in Figure 3. Also, below these adjusting screws the hinge members are extended at an angle to the outer hinge carrying portion thereof in such manner as to be disposable paral'- lel to the plane face 6a, on the'adjacent lag mem-A ber 6. Further, each pair of hinge members I8 has a iiat stationary knife attached totheir extremities, transverse slots 5a, also being provided in the ends of each knife, and bolts 2| extending through these slots and having their heads 22 engaging the knife to pressl the same against the lower ends of the hinge members. Here, also, it will be noted that cylindrical sleeves 23 are extended transversely through the lags 6 and suitably xed thereto as by welding to prevent leakage, these sleevesZS also being chambered at 2d to receive the heads 22 of the bolts 2l and also being provided with communicating apertures 25 for receiving bolts 2e having their inner ends threaded into the heads 22 of the bolts 2l and the heads of the bolts 25 bearing against the outer ends of the sleeves 2,3. Further, it will be observed that at spaced points between the hinge members I3,each knife 5 is provided with a plurality of transverse slots 5b similar to the slots 5a, and that other sleeves 2l also extend through the lags and are similarly'welded therein, while bolts 23 extend through these sleeves and have nuts 29 further acting to hold the knife pressed firmly against the plane face Ea of each lag I. rI'hus, it will be evident that the knives 5 in the position of the hinge members IS shown in full lines in Figure 3, are rigidly connected to the lag members ti rigidly connected to the end members 2, while upon'removal of the bolts 2S andv 28 and of the intermediate structures 4 these hinges, with the knives 5 still attached thereto bythe bolts 2l, may be swung up into the dotted line positions indicated in Figure 3.

While various structures may be used, in my improved construction the cuttings removing structures l between the several lags l5v are pivotally connected to' the extensions 3b on these lags and also connected tothe end members 2 in such manner as to permit the bodily removal of any structure fi so that any pair of knife carrying hinge members I8 may be swung between the full and dotted line positions illustrated in Figure 3. Herein, a screen carrying unit 30 is illustrated including rods having one end received in suitable spaced milled recesses 3| in the extension 6b and their opposite ends received in corresponding holes 32 in a removable angle iron member 33; the latter also being removably attached as by a spring pressed pin carrying mechanism 35i, in turn carried by the endmembers 2 and having pins movable therethrough and receivable in corresponding recesses carried by the removable angle iron members 33. Further, in this construction, pivoted covers 35 are also pivoted at 36 on the outer ends of extensions 8b. Thus, it will be evident that when theY cover 35 is swung back and the angle iron member 33 also released and` removed, the screen carrying frame Sii may be removed bodily in such manner as to permit the hinges I8 and the knives thereon to be swung up to the dotted line position, while after the member I3 has been returned to `operative position, the screen unit 3Q and the cover 35 may be returned to their operative position to permit the cuttings to be withdrawn through the apertures II and suction connections I2 in a usual manner.

In the use of my improved construction, it will i be evident that the knives 5 may be readily adjusted on the hinge members I8 so that the workfing ends of the knives project the desired distance beyond the free ends of the hinge members, a suitable gauge being used on the portion X and the knives being xed in this position by suitable adjustment of the bolts 2l. Then, the cuttings removing structured, including the angle irons ner that the knives 5 are rigidly connected to,

the members 6 throughout the Vfull length of both. Should a ne adjustment be required laterA or during operation of the machine, the bolts 26l and 28 are loosened and the hinge members I8 are moved toward oraway from the cylinder by turningthe nuts I5 on the studs I3, the springs I6 beinglstiff and then acting to keep the members It'. tight against the nuts I5.

As a result of my improved construction, it is made possible to eliminate all need for additional rail members connecting the end members of the casing, and to utilize my cooling lag mem-V bersv asral members. Further, while these members 6 remain a rigid part of the frame, itis made possible also to utilize one set of sides thereof as knife abutments, and their other sides as supports for the Vcuttings withdrawing structure. Further, through the use-of my improved hinged type knife supports, it is made possible not only rigidly to connect the knives to the-members 6 during operation of the machine, but also to enable the knives, whenever desired, to be exposed conveniently for adjustment, so that a gauge may lbe readily applied to the exposed'edge of any knife in such manner as to-keep their action uniform. Moreover, it will be observed that not only are the parts securelyheld in this relation during operation of the machine, but should any need for finer adjustment arise,- this Amay `be readily eifected by merely releasing the bolts 2S and 28 and adjusting the nuts I5 as desired, while these bolts are thus released. These and other advantages of my improved construction will, however, be apparent to those skilled in the art.

While I have in this applicationl specifically described one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form Vof the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims. g

What I caim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a rotary cutteran enclosing casing therefor including fixed rails and cooperating cuttings removing structure therebetween, and stationary knives cooperating with said cutter and carried on said nxed rails, said cuttings removing structure being remova-ble and said knives being hinged on said rails and movable about their hinges into exposed position upon removal of said cuttings removing structure.

2. In combination, a rotary cutter, an enclosing casing therefor including end members and longitudinally extending rails fixed to said casing end members and cooperating cuttings removing structure between the latter,` knives cooperating with said cutter and carried on and adjustable relative to said fixed rails, and cooling water passage forming means in said rails for effecting cooling of said knives carried thereby and including a lateral extension of said passage forming means on the opposite faces of said rails from said knives for increasing the cooling effect adjacent said rotary cutter.

3. In combination, a rotary cutter, an enclosing casing therefor including fixed rails and cooperating cuttings removing structure between the latter, knives cooperating with said cutter and carried on said fixed rails, and cooling water passage forming means in said rails for effecting cooling of said knives carried thereby, said knives engaging faces of said rails and the latter carrying means for clamping said knives against said faces including sleeves extending through said rails and preventing leakage from said passage forming means and clamping bolts extending through said sleeves.

4. In a stationary knife carrying mechanism for rotary cutters, a rail, knife carrying means hinged to said rail and swingable about a hinge thereon into and out of operative position including hinge members, a knife, and means for clamping said knife to said hinge members, and means for clamping said knife to one side of said rail connected to said first mentioned clamping means and accessible from the opposite end of said rail.

5. In a stationary knife carrying mechanism for rotary cutters, a rail, knife carrying means pivoted to an outer face of said rail and swingable about a hinge thereon into and out of operative position including hinge members, a knife, and means for clamping said knife to said hinge members, means for clamping the ends of said knife to said rail and also clamping said first mentioned clamping means to said rail, and spaced means intermediate said end clamping means for clamping said knife to said rail.

6. In a stationary knife carrying mechanism for rotary cutters, a rail, knife carrying means pivoted to an outer face of said rail and swingable about a hinge thereon into and out of operative position including hinge members, a knife, and means for clamping said knife to said hinge members, means for clamping the ends of said knife to said rail and also clamping said first mentioned clamping means to said rail, spaced means intermediate said end clamping means for clamping said knife to said rail, and means on said outer face for adjusting the pivots of said hinge members toward and from said rail.

7. In combination, a rotary cutter, an enclosing casing therefor including rails fixed to said casing and cooperating cuttings removing structure between adjacent rails, stationary knives cooperating with said cutter, pivots supporting said knives on said rails, and means including operative connections between said rails and said knives for radially adjusting said pivots to adjust said knives relative to the axis of said cutter CFI from the exterior of said casing while said rails retain their fixed relation to said casing in all positions of said knives.

8. In combination, a rotary cutter, an enclosing casing therefor including rails fixed to said casing and cooperating cuttings removing structure between adjacent rails, stationary knives cooperating with said cutter, pivots supporting said knives on said rails, and mechanism for adjusting said knives relative to said cutter from the exterior of said casing, including knife clamps on said rails and means including operative connections between said rails and said knives for adjusting said pivots to adjust said knives radially relative to said rails upon release of said clamps.

9. In a stationary knife carrying mechanism for a rotary cutter, an enclosing casing for said cutter having a rail, pivot means on said rail, stationary knife carrying means hinged to said rail and swingable about said pivot means into and out of said casing including hinge means pivoted on said pivot means, and means carried by said rail for clamping said knife carrying means against one side of said rail when said knife carrying means is in operative position in said casing.

10. In a stationary knife carrying mechanism for a rotary cutter, an enclosing casing for said cutter having a rail, a screen member adjacent said rail, pivot means on said rail, and stationary knife carrying means hinged to said rail and swingable about said pivot means into and out of said casing including hinge members disposable in parallel relation to said rail between the latter and said screen member and pivoted on said pivot means, a knife extending beyond the free edges of said hinge members, and means for adjustably attaching said knife to said hinge members.

1l. In a stationary knife carrying mechanism for a rotary cutter, an enclosing casing for said cutter having a rail, pivot means on said rail, stationary knife carrying means hinged to said rail and swingable about said pivot means into fand out of said casing including hinge members pivoted on said pivot means, a knife xed'to said hinge members and extending beyond the free edges thereof, and means for adjusting said pivot means radially relative to the axis of said rotary cutter.

12. In a stationary knife carrying mechanism for a rotary cutter, an enclosing casing for said cutter having a rail, pivot means on said rail, stationary knife carrying means including hinge members hinged to said rail on said pivot means and swingable about the latter into and out of said casing, a knife xed to said hinge members and extending beyond the free ends thereofy and mechanism for adjusting said pivot means relative to said rail, including means for constantly biasing said pivot means away from said rail and means adjustable from the exterior of said casing for adjusting said pivot means toward and from said ra'il.

13. In a stationary knife carrying mechanism for a rotary cutter, an enclosing casing for said cutter having a rail fixed to said casing, a supporting member having pivot means thereon located outside said casing and resiliently mounted on and adjustable radially relative to the axis of said rotary cutter, and knife carrying means pivoted on said pivot means and movable about the axis thereof into and out of said casing.

14. In a stationary knife carrying mechanism for a rotary cutter, an enclosing casing for said cutter having a rail xed to said casing, supporting members having pivot forming supports thereon resiliently mounted on and adjustable radially relative to the axis of said rotary cutter, knife carrying means pivoted on said supports and movable about the pivotal axes thereof into Y and out of said casing, said supports being spaced along said rail and having their pivotal axes parallel thereto and said knife carrying means including hinges pivoted on said supports, and a 10 knife attached at its opposite ends to said hinges.

ANDREW HAUGE. 

